Sports festival opens with glamour

Competition at the sports festival had indeed began last Tuesday but the organisers had to defer the official opening ceremony ostensibly due to the busy schedule of the country's leadership which has the prerogative of declaring open events od such magnitude.

President Obasanjo was represented by his vice Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, once again seized the opportunity afforded by the gathering to advertise government's avowed commitment to sports development in the country. In the president's speech read by Atiku,Obasanjo urged youths inthe country to eschew violence and other social ills,advising them to embrace sports which has proved to be a veritable source of livelihood for millions of people all over the world.

Sports minister Col. Musa Mohammed[rtd] and the Chief Host Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in separate speeches welcomed all participants to the Abuja festival,asking them to make good use of the facilities on ground at the Abuja stadium,while echoing the president's mantra about government's support and encouragement for athletes. Banners of 35 states including the host city were paraded during the match past.

There was no immediate explanation for the absence of Jigawa. The ceremony which got underway at 5.30pm local time drew a sizable crowd from all speres of the Nigerian political,social and economic life,including the educational sector.School children from the Abuja munincipality turned out in their thousands,ditto the athletes most of whom were having a day off from competition due to the opening ceremony. Cultural troupes representing the different ethnic groups in the country threw the audience into a deep frenzy with their melodious renditions and beautiful dances and stunts.